On April 20, 2008 Colorado Rapids captain Pablo Mastroeni played his first-ever MLS Reserve League match, a 1-1 tie with the San Jose Earthquakes Reserves on the training field at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. It took five years to the date for Mastroeni to make his second Reserve appearance in the six years of the league.

"It felt great being back on the field," Mastroeni told ColoradoRaipds.com on Tuesday. "Obviously now it's about getting game fit. I think that was a big first step and hopefully we can build on that as we progress this week for the game in Houston."

Mastroeni started the first two matches this year but was forced off the second game against Philadelphia in just the eighth minute with a left hamstring strain. He missed the next match at Salt Lake and started on March 23 at LA before coming off with the quad strain in the 27th minute.

The Rapids play the Houston Dynamo at BBVA Stadium in Houston on Sunday, April 28 at 3 p.m. MT (live on Altitude and UniMas).